New Delhi, Jan. 30 -- Drug regulator Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) are firming up standard evaluation and quality protocols for Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) testing kits following a recent surge in cases.

The union health ministry on 6 January reported 2 cases of HMPV in Karnataka detected by ICMR during routine surveillance. However, on 9 January, Mint reported that India had witnessed around 200 HMPV cases till December last year.

There is no uniformity in the performance evaluation of such kits at present, which leads to variations in test results. HMPV attracted attention globally after China reported a surge in respiratory illness with flu-like symptoms in Dece...